The nurse practitioner who met with my wife and I before I was released from the hospital advised us to just get the cheapest possible cotton pads. "Go to the dollar store just get some cheap old style kotex. After all, you're just gonna throw 'em away."

Well, looking at the shelf in the grocery store, I had a lot of second thoughts about her advise. I kind of thought "prepare for the worst and hope for the best". That would mean getting some kind of total undergarments.

So, those of you who have been down this path before, what is your advice? What did you wear? What is your advice?

Naimnut, It's great that they are that optimistic about you drying up. You might get one pack of the cheapest men's pads and take a few with you to your cath removal depending on how far you live from there. If you do dry up quickly your not out much.

good luck,

kw

43

PSA 5.7 - Discovered during Annual Physical with Family Practice Dr.

Gleason 7

Biopsy - 3 of 12 positive (up to 75%) all on left side of prostate

RRP on Oct. 17, 2006 - Nerves on right side saved.

All Lab's clear. No Cancer outside prostate

Cathiter in for 3 weeks due to complications in healing. Removed Nov. 9, 2006

First Post op PSA on Dec. 11, 2006 Undetectable 0.00

Office visit on Jan. 19th due to continued excessive urine leakage.

Feb.20th Cystoscope and 2nd Post Op PSA. Another 0.00.....:)

Dr. said everything looks fine. Continue to work Kegeal's. Leaking appears to have improved after Cystoscope?!?!?! Down to 3-4 pads per day!

March 1st Leaking has crept back up to 6 - 8 pads a day ???????

March 8th Started Detrol LA to see if it helps with the leaking?

March 29th Collagen injection into sphincter / bladder neck area to control excessive leaking. Worked for a couple of days then back to leaking.

April 17th (Six Months Post Op) 2nd Collagen Injection to control excessive leaking. Leaking started back next day at work!

May 14th Second Opinion about my leaking and Options at OU Medical Center. After reviewing my records the Dr. feels I will probably need some surgical intervention to stop my leaking. But did agree to try Bio-Feedback and work hard on the Kegeal's first!

about clothing, I just wore sweat pants but it was winter when I went. KW 43

PSA 5.7 - Discovered during Annual Physical with Family Practice Dr.

Gleason 7

Biopsy - 3 of 12 positive (up to 75%) all on left side of prostate

RRP on Oct. 17, 2006 - Nerves on right side saved.

All Lab's clear. No Cancer outside prostate

Cathiter in for 3 weeks due to complications in healing. Removed Nov. 9, 2006

First Post op PSA on Dec. 11, 2006 Undetectable 0.00

Office visit on Jan. 19th due to continued excessive urine leakage.

Feb.20th Cystoscope and 2nd Post Op PSA. Another 0.00.....:)

Dr. said everything looks fine. Continue to work Kegeal's. Leaking appears to have improved after Cystoscope?!?!?! Down to 3-4 pads per day!

March 1st Leaking has crept back up to 6 - 8 pads a day ???????

March 8th Started Detrol LA to see if it helps with the leaking?

March 29th Collagen injection into sphincter / bladder neck area to control excessive leaking. Worked for a couple of days then back to leaking.

April 17th (Six Months Post Op) 2nd Collagen Injection to control excessive leaking. Leaking started back next day at work!

May 14th Second Opinion about my leaking and Options at OU Medical Center. After reviewing my records the Dr. feels I will probably need some surgical intervention to stop my leaking. But did agree to try Bio-Feedback and work hard on the Kegeal's first!

I would advise to get the small package of a men's pad to wear home from the doctor's office. I have to admit, that I purchased some complete undergarnments plus the men's pads, and I over did it. Quickly I was able to switch to a women's smaller pad and then lose them altogether. I have a collection of the undergarnments and big men's pads stored away for when I hit 90!

Naimnut - First off, when it comes to pads, the men's ones are of course contoured to fit a man's body, with most of the absorbancy in front. This is more practical, more comfortable, and also less likely to leak.

Bob had both pads and undergarment pull up type for protection. At first he wore the pull up with a pad secured inside. The pull up was seldom wet, however it was there in case . ..especially at night. The thought of wearing only the pull up and no pad didn't seem feasible as every dribble would be felt as it found it's way to wherever it ended up (seemed more diaper-like to us both) With the pad in place it caught anything in a more comfortable manner.

Start with the smaller packages until you know what your situation will be like. The pull ups Bob used at night for quite awhile and any unused ones went straight to the garbage. Small price to pay for the knowledge of knowing they are no longer needed.

Good luck and keep us posted.

;o) Linda & BobBob (61) - Laproscopic Prostate Removal Sept 27, 2006.

2 of 12 malignant biopsy samples - gleason 3 + 3 = 6.

Pathology - cancer completely contained, even a second more aggressive, previously undetected cancer)

I wore big loose basketball pants, they are sort of like nylon sweat pants gut there is no elastic at the leg bottom. These also came in handy when I went out with the leg bag during the week for a walk while I had the cath in. I bought a bunch of pads and diapers and as mentioned above never used the pull over diapers. I used the pads (serenity male guards) for a while as security even though I did not need them. They made my crotch a little warm but were shaped for a man and did not chaffe. If you go with the pads it is best to use jockey type under shorts to hold the pad in place. The jockey shorts work well for me now for absorbing the occasional stress leak.

Naimnut,I used the Serenity for men's pads. They were comfortable and hold a lot. Hopefully they will hold more than you will need, but they are wide like a baseball cup, and give you much more "coverage area" up fromn than a standard woman's pad.I also wore sweat pants - loose and comfortable!Hope this helps, MikeJune 2005 - Age 53 PSA 4.8 at regular physicalOctober 2005 - After several rounds of anti-biotics, PSA 5.2 at UrlogistNovember 2005 - Biopsy negativeJuly 2006 - PSA 5.9 at regular PhysicalOctober 2006 - After several more rounds of anti-biotics PSA 8.1November 2006 - Second biopsy - PositiveDecember 2006 - Gleason (3+4=7), Tumor T1c, CT Scan and Bone Scan Negative January 2, 2007 Robotic Prostatectomy, University of Rochester Medical Center - Tumor confined but larger than thought, only one nerve able to be spared. Margins clear.February 2007 - Three to four pads a day, no erection with viagara.March 2007 - Down to two pads a day, had first intercourse with Erecaid pump and bands, otherwise still flat tire.April 2007 - First Post-Surgical PSA 0.02 and a great relief! Down to one pad a day. Still unable to achive erection without pump.May, 2007 - Still one pad a day, even try a smaller pad on occasion. Slight improvement on the ED."If patience is a virtue, I feel like the most virtuous guy on the planet!"